About our Board

Olaf Plotzke, B.Sc., DDS., D.Ped., FPFA, FICD, FACD

Olaf is a 1977 graduate of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario. After practicing for five years as a general dentist he ventured forward and received his Diploma in the Specialty of Paediatric Dentistry from IUPUI (Indiana University) in Indianapolis, Indiana. He practiced full time paediatric dentistry from 1984 until 2014 when he had to take early retirement. He taught at the Schulich School of Dentistry for 41 years in various roles but finished off as adjunct clinical professor in the Division of Paediatric dentistry and retired from the school in 2018. Since 1992 he has been the Dental Director of the Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Anomaly Team at Thames Valley Children’s Centre in London, Ontario. Olaf served on the Executive of the London and District Dental Society from 1993-1998. He has authored or coauthored several scientific articles. He participated in Operation Walk Canada for the last 4 years as the paediatric dentist on its mission to Antigua, Guatemala. He sits on the Board of Directors of Merrymount Family support and Crisis Centre. He has been recognized by both the London and District Dental Society and the Ontario Dental Association for his contribution to the Specialty of Paediatric Dentistry and in 2018 was honoured with the Alumni of Distinction Award from the Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. He is a founding member of CSDH . Olaf is passionate about paediatric dentistry and feels honoured to have been chosen in 2020 as the first president of The Canadian Society for Disability and Oral Health, a position he still holds.

Clive Friedman BDS Cert ped Dent.

Dr. Clive Friedman, BDS Cert ped Dent. is a Graduate of the University of Witwatersrand South Africa –received his specialty in Pediatric Dentistry University of New Orleans. Is in full time clinical practice 81-present. Assistant Clinical Professor Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry as well as the University of Toronto where he has taught an array of courses. Clive is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and Fellow ADPD (Academy Dentistry for Persons with Disability). Clive was a past president of ADPD, and iADH. (International Association of Disability and Oral Health). He is a founding member of CSDH – (Canadian Society of Disability and Oral Health). He currently sits on the editorial board of BSDH, is a member of the education committee for IADH, and a special consultant to Special Olympics. He is also a member of ICC (International Clinical Council for FOP) and consults globally for people with FOP. (Fibrodysplasia Ossifcans Progressiva). He has lectured extensively both Nationally and Internationally with specific interest in Special Needs, Risk Management, Behaviour and Motivational Interviewing.

Carol Yakiwchuk, Dip DH, BSc DH, MHS, RDH

Carol graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Diploma in Dental Hygiene (1992) and a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene (2010). In 2012, she attained a Masters in Health Studies and Leadership through Athabasca University. Carol is a creative collaborator in the promotion of oral health wellness for vulnerable populations, and has pursued countless opportunities to do so both professionally and through volunteer experiences throughout her career. Carol’s many accomplishments include positions in dental hygiene clinical practice, management, consulting, and educational roles at universities, colleges, regulatory authorities, and with associations in both British Columbia and Manitoba. She retired from her role from the First Nations Health Authority in 2019 where she served as the Manager, Oral Health for the First Nations Peoples of British Columbia. Her substantive leadership experience includes appointments as a board member, chairperson and president of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), governor of the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB), and as an active member of several national and regional steering committees. Along with her colleagues, Carol contributed her energy and enthusiasm to help pass The Dental Hygienists Act in Manitoba. Carol served as one of the founding oral health promotion specialists at the launching of the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Community Oral Health (CCOH) in 2000. As CCOH Health Promotion Unit’s manager, she contributed to ground-breaking caregiver training programs, resources, and research focused on adults dependent on others for their daily oral care. Over the arc of her oral health career, Carol has received numerous grants and awards. Most recently, she was Canada’s first-ever winner of the Golisano Health Leadership Award (’16), recognizing her dedicated volunteer work with Special Olympics on behalf of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Carol is a proud member of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association, the British Columbia Dental Hygienists Association, and the Canadian Association of Public Dentistry. Her publications and numerous presentations targeting the most vulnerable reflect her passion for achieving wellness by addressing access to care barriers and the important link between oral and overall health. Carol enjoys her on-going contributions as a Regional Clinical Advisor and as a Clinical Director of the Special Olympics’ Special Smiles Healthy Athletes program.

Dr. Paul Romanson

Paul was born and raised in London, Ontario. He graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario, in 1972. He graduated with his BSc. from Western, in 1975.Paul started and owned his general dental practice in London for 42 years and he continued to practice dentistry until December 2018. He feels that retirement might take hold now, and wonders why he has less free time than when he was fully employed. Paul has been, and continues to be, an Adjunct Clinical Professor for 38 years, at the Schulich Dental School; served two 6 year terms as an ODA Councilor; became President of the London and District Dental Society, (LDDS), in 2005 and volunteers in the DOCS program, (Dental Outreach Community Service),in London. Presently, Paul is a member of the ODA Articles and By-Laws Sub Committee; Chair of the Honours and Awards Committee for the LDDS; and Secretary for the American College of Dentists, Ontario Section. For his Community, Paul has been active as a hockey and soccer coach, as well as teaching Sunday School and as a leader in Scouts Canada. Recently, he was elected as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre, in London. Paul is happily married to his lovely wife Karen, of 43 years. Together they have three successful adult children and 4 grandchildren. and together they spoil their grandchildren without mercy and enjoy travel.

Dr. Serena Kassam

Dr. Serena Kassam is originally from Vancouver, BC. She then completed her B.A/D.M.D at Tufts University in Boston, MA and Pediatric Dental Residency through Lutheran Medical Center at St Joseph’s Hospital, In Providence, RI. She went on to complete a research fellowship at New York University Langone Medical Center, Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, in Craniofacial Pediatric Dentistry and Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM).

Dr. Kassam is actively committed to her work with Global Smile Foundation (GSF), a registered non- profit dedicated to improving the lives of patients with cleft lip and palate in developing countries. She is the Director of the Dental and Pre-Surgical division, a board member and has been an active volunteer since 2010, working together to provide comprehensive cleft care, long term follow up, training of local healthcare providers, and building sustainability. She has focused on their Ecuador site, where they have established a clinic with yearly follow up and provided advanced Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) training to dental providers from around the world. In addition, there is now a comprehensive cleft center that runs year round. In 2017, Dr. Kassam became a founding member of the World Cleft Coalition, an alliance of NGOs that work in the area of cleft lip and palate, to encourage international collaboration on best practices for safe and comprehensive cleft care globally.

Dr. Kassam is a Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow, Royal College of Dentists of Canada. She also holds dental licenses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York State. She was recently appointed on the Education Committee for the America Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) and is honoured to become a board member and join the Canadian Society of Disability and Oral Health.

Liz Morch, DHP-C, AGDDE MEd.

Elizabeth Morch has taught in the Camosun College Dental Hygiene Program for 30 years. Her teaching passion includes developing innovative approaches to engage students in learning. She has taught clinical theory, pharmacology, periodontology, oral pathology and professional practice. She is an item writer for the National Board Exam, a Prior Learning Assessor (PLAR) for the College of Dental Hygienists of BC and a CDHBC clinical examiner. My passion for dentistry began at an early age when I worked with my father, a dentist in our local community. As a clinical dental hygienist and long term dental hygiene educator at Camosun College, I am dedicated to igniting the passion and curiosity in students, mentoring the development of professional clinicians and improving access to dental care for all patients. My past projects included the creation of the first online dental hygiene course in Canada, collaborating with UBC to provide dental hygiene care in Haida Gwaii and implementing the principles of Universal Design into teaching and learning. My current project is the first clinical research project at Camosun, a qualitative study on how to desensitize patients with special needs to the dental environment. This journey began when a group of colleagues in Dental Programs created a series of learning modules for Special Olympics. During this project, it became evident that clinicians and caregivers were in need of support to meet the needs of patients with special needs including intellectual disabilities. The initial research was presented at the International Federation of Dental Hygiene Conference in Brisbane Australia in 2019.

The possibilities for future endeavours to meet the needs of special needs patients in our community is endless and the benefit to our graduates immeasurable. The intended outcome of this project is improve access to dental care and to implement teaching and learning strategies to build capacity in our future graduates in how to provide care to clients with special needs. It is our hope that Camosun College becomes a resource for caregivers of individuals with special needs and a leader in educating health care providers on best practices for the provision of dental care.

She is the proud mother of three daughter and a doting grandmother to her four year old grandson. She is an avid sports enthusiast who enjoys tennis, golf, paddleboarding, kayaking as well as cooking for family and friends.

Ms. Joan Rush

Joan has previously joined CSDH Board members for panel discussions and presentations and she is now excited to join the CSDH as Chair of the newly established CSDH Advocacy Committee. Joan is a retired lawyer who practised insurance and health law for financial institutions and health authorities. Joan was formerly Vice President Law, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of a Canadian life and health insurer. She was a Director and the Governance Chair of Community Living B.C., a B.C. Crown Agency, a Director of the B.C. Cancer Agency Research Ethics Board, and Vice President and Director of the Developmental Disabilities Association. Joan is a former Adjunct Professor (Insurance Law) and Visiting Scholar at the UBC Faculty of Law and received an adjunct appointment from the UBC Faculty of Dentistry to co-supervise a dental graduate student. She received a Law Foundation grant to write Help! Teeth Hurt: Government’s Obligation to Provide Timely Access to Dental Treatment to BC Adults who have Developmental Disabilities. Joan created the Help! Teeth Hurt Dental Clinic Project to improve access to dental treatment for adults with developmental disabilities and to train dental professionals to treat these adults. Help! Teeth Hurt won the UBC Start an Evolution competition. The Vancouver Foundation provided funding for Joan to draft a Business Case to the BC Minister of Health for a Specialized Dental Clinic for adults with special needs. In 2020 Joan received a Merit Award from the Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry, of which she is a member, and an Award from Honourable Joyce Murray, Federal Minister of Digital Government, in recognition of her volunteer work in her community. Joan is a member of the Citizens Advisory Board of the Network for Canadian Oral Health Research. The NCOHR receives support from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and recently established a Research Working Group for Disability and Oral Health. Joan and her husband Dennis have two children. Their son, Graeme, lives with autism. Joan’s passion for specialized dental care for adults with developmental differences arose as she realized how difficult it was to obtain adequate dental care for her son Graeme as he aged. Joan looks forward to her future advocacy work with the CSDH to promote access to oral health care for Canadians with special needs.